Frozen Rudder: Sugar Island Ferry is not working; beware deadly double-digit below zero temps with vicious windchills – lots of wrecks and vehicles sliding off roads across the U.P. including mini-van into snowplow in Houghton County

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U.P. Breaking News Bulletin –

12-27-17 Update – 7:50 a.m. Informational page for all departments was issued by the Chippewa County 911 center. The Sugar island Ferry is inoperable due “to a frozen rudder.” Understandable due to freezing conditions – 30 degree below zero windchill – and double digit below zero temps.

7 a.m. – 12-27-17

Sugar Island Ferry not working, lots of rollovers, rear-end wrecks, and vehicles into snowbanks reported across the U.P. – made even riskier due to 30 degree below zero windchill

Sugar Island Ferry

By Greg Peterson
U.P. Breaking News
Owner, News Director
906-273-2433

(Sugar Island, MI) – A vehicle fire on Sugar Island this morning led to officials discovering the ferry was “broken down and inoperable.”
The fire was reported about 6 a.m. ET today, Dec. 27, 2017

The vehicle fire happened at East 4-Mile Road and South Brassar Road on Sugar Island.

At 7:16 a.m., fire officials on Sugar Island reported the fire was out – and the vehicle is being left where it is surrounded with orange cones. Once the ferry is working again, a law enforcement officer and wrecker will be dispatched from the mainland in Chippewa County.

Double-digit below zero temperature and even colder windchills. Make sure you have extra clothing in your vehicle for safety reasons and because accidents happen when you least suspect.
Meanwhile diving remains hazardous across the U.P. – with many cars into the ditch and accidents.
Since last night numerous wrecks reported including a mini-van that hit a snowplow truck in Houghton County near Chassel.
One female received minor injuries when her van rear-ended the plow in white out conditions.
And a vehicle overturned early today in Chippewa County briefly trapping the two occupants.
Chippewa County 911 dispatched a law enforcement officer to meet the Sugar Island Volunteer Fire department and EMTs from the Sugar Island EMS.
However that’s when the U.S. Border Patrol agent told 911 that the agency had heard the ferry is not working.
A check of the Eastern Upper Peninsula Transportation Authority (EUPTA) doesn’t mention the ferry being inoperable.
http://www.eupta.net/ferry-system

The reasons for the ferry breakdown and when it will be working again is not known.
The info was apparently a surprise to 911 and other emergency officials in Chippewa County.

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